(10 October) After several negotiations, the anti-government protesters have agreed to relocate their protests back to Lumpini Park during the visit of Chinese Premier to Government House, where the protesters had been camping.

However, a small group of protesters refused to disperse and vowed their own rally in Uruphong intersection, a few blocks away from their original camp site at Government House.

The People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT) vowed to return to resume their calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra after Mr. Li Keqiang had concluded his official visit to Thailand, scheduled to take place from 11-13 October.

Government officials have proposed to the PEFOT protesters that they clear the ground for the upcoming visit of Mr. Li. The protest leaders had rejected the proposals in previous negotiations, including one organised today at the protest site.

But around 14.00 today Gen. Preecha Eiamsupan, a leader of PEFOT, took to the rally stage in front of Government House and urged his fellow protesters – around 300 of them – to return to Lumpini Park, where they had been occupying for two months.

Some protesters booed and shouted their disagreement. Around 100 protesters stood their ground at the stage while others packed their tents and equipments.

The splinter group later broke off to Uruphong intersection and vowed to continue the rally on its own.

The short-lived protests at Government House, which had started as an ambitious attempt to bring about the collapse to the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, have been peaceful, despite several arguments between the protesters and the police officers who had sealed off the areas around the protest site.

Operating under the authority of Internal Security Act, thousands of officers have occupied governmental offices to deter the protesters from entering those buildings, and have blocked traffic in the vicinity to bar new protesters.

Upon the PEFOT′s announcement that it will withdraw to Lumpini Park, the officers lifted the barricades from the roads and allow traffic to resume. Some public buses were also provided to the protesters.

As of Thursday evening, the government has not lifted the Internal Security Act.

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(9 October) Anti-government protesters who are rallying around Government House appear unmoved by the enactment of security laws that would give the authorities a sweeping power to restrict and monitor the protests.

Banding under the name People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT), the protesters are rallying against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whom they perceive to be a puppet of her brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

PEFOT supporters allege that Mr. Thaksin is a corrupt and anti-monarchy tyrant who attempts to sabotage the country from his exiles in Dubai and Hong Kong.

Although the protests remain relatively small – the average number appears to be 300 people – this morning the government deemed it necessary to enact Internal Security Act of 2007 in three districts and 8 subdistrict of Bangkok to give them a robust power in tackling the protests.

The ISA grants the authorities the power to block traffic, close off areas, search the protesters, and send in police force to dislodge the protesters should they decide to do so.

The areas affected under the ISA are mostly governmental offices. Financial and commercial districts of Bangkok are not included in the enactment. The ISA is due to expire on 18 October, officials said.

Lt.Gen. Paradorn Pattanabut, director of the National Security Council (NSC), said the invocation of the security law is "necessary" as the normal policing power is not adequate to control the situation. "We need a special law that will integrate other related agencies," Lt.Gen. Paradorn said.

He expressed his worry that "other groups" might join the protests and escalate the situation, especially during the upcoming visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is due to arrive in Bangkok on 11 October and scheduled to visit Government House.
The head of NSC claimed the protesters pose a great risk to the public order, citing intelligence reports that PEFOT is intent on expanding their rallies and instigating chaos in the governmental district of Bangkok, possibly occupying some important buildings.

He also warned that unknown elements might take advantage of the protests and escalate the situation into violence. 

Throughout the day, the protesters show no sign of backing down. Leaders of PEFOT said during a negotiation with the police that they would not disperse during Mr. Li′s visit. Various figures give speeches attacking the government on the stage, with intermittent music performance.

The protesters appear to be in high spirit. They have erected makeshift canteens distributing food, while Bangkok authorities provided them with toilet buses and water tanks. Some protesters could be seen dancing to the music around the stage.

Gen. Preecha Eiamsupan, a leader of PEFOT, said in a press conference today that his group is unarmed and exercising the right of assembly in peaceful manner.

As for several protesters who were arrested for carrying scissors and knives into the protest site, Gen. Preecha explained that such equipments are not weapons and needed for camp site maintenance.

Government officials have portrayed the PEFOT rally as a proxy battle on behalf of the Democrat Party, accusing the opposition of sending reinforcements to and coordinating with the protesters in order to sow havoc against the government.

The Democrat Party denies the allegations. Mr. Taworn Senniam, deputy chairman of Democrat Party, said he is not aware of any reinforcement from southern Thailand (the voting base of Democrats) arriving in Bangkok. "We do not manage the rally," he said.

Mr. Taworn added that PEFOT is composed of people from different regions of Thailand, and suggested that the prominent numbers of southerners in the protesters are due to their grievance about rubber price, the major economic plants of southern Thailand.

He also dismissed the government′s claims that PEFOT is plotting to occupy Government House, the airports, and the state TV station, calling them "day-dreaming".

As for the enactment of ISA, Mr. Taworn suggested that the protesters could take the case to the court and insist on their constitutional rights of peaceful assembly.

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(9 October) The protesters who are rallying against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House in Bangkok say they would not clear the ground for the upcoming visit of Premier of the People′s Republic of China.

Li Keqiang is scheduled to visit Bangkok from 11-13 October. The Premier is also expected to meet with Ms. Yingluck at Government House, where thousands of riot police officers are posted to keep close watch on the much fewer anti-government protesters who are camping just outside the compound.

Calling themselves People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT), the protesters accuse Ms. Yingluck of serving as a puppet for her brother, the controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and demand her resignation.

Earlier this morning, Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul Narongsak, deputy commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, visited the protesters? camp with his assistants and attempted to negotiate with PEFOT representatives, namely Adm. Chai Suwannaparp and Gen. Preecha Eiamsupan.

Sitting on a mat near Gate Three of Government House, Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul proposed that PEFOT move their rally to somewhere else, preferably Lumpini Park, during Mr. Li′s visit in order to maintain "good atmosphere" around Government House for the foreign delegates.

"After that, you are welcomed to come back and protest again," Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul told the protest leaders.

The deputy commander stressed during the meeting that the police have to place checkpoints around the protesters? camp to safeguard the welfare of the protesters. He said the officers have confiscated firearms, knives, and scissors from individuals who attempted to enter the protest site.

"We do not know who these people are," Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul said, "We have received intelligence that a third hand party is intent on creating [chaotic] situation,"

However, Adm. Chai and Gen. Preecha insisted the protests would not disperse during the visit of the Chinese Premier, and offered to keep the camp site in clean and orderly fashion.

"I think it′s something we can show the foreigners, so they will see that Thailand has democracy and the rights of expression," said Gen. Preecha, adding that Ms. Yingluck should take Mr. Li for a walking tour in the protesters? camp to prove that point.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul said he hoped both parties can engage in further rounds of negotiation in order to solve the matter. 

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(9 October) Riot police have been dispatched to maintain order at Bangkok′s main international airport amidst the fears that the ongoing anti-government protests might escalate.

115 officers, drawn from the crowd control unit of Uttaradit province, are now stationed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in order to "assure the foreign visitors of their safety," said Pol.Col. Montri Chinda. The order came direction from the Royal Thai Police headquarters, he added.

The officers are supported by two vans carrying supply and riot gears, such as shields and truncheons.

Pol.Col. Montri also told our correspondent that two more police companies in Uttaradit are at "stand-by" to reinforce the riot police in Bangkok should the protests at Government House get out of hand.

In 2008, the People′s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) led the protesters to occupy both of Bangkok′s airports as part of their campaign to force the government at the time to resign. The government of then-Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat eventually collapsed after the court ordered the disbandment of his political party.

Allied to the PAD, the People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT) is similarly calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accusing her of being a corrupt puppet of her brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

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